Device for picking up golf balls and like articles



H. E. MOYSES Nov. 3, 1931.

DEVICE FOR PICKING UP GOLF BALLS AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed Jan. 10, 1930 INVENTOR. J/a'rrz 9. 771oy6e6.

ATTORNEY.

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Ill! 4 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE nanny n. muses, on Axnon, omo

Application filed Januar y IO, 1980. Serial No. 419,814.

This invention, as indicated, relates to devices for picking up golf balls, or other l1ke spherical or approximately spherical articles, the surface of which may be corrugated or 5 otherwise formed so that an ordinary vacuum cup would be inapplicable. More specifically the invention has for its object the provision of a novel vacuum cup attachment for a golf club which will enable a player to lift a ball from a green cup without bending or stooping. A more particular object is to provide a means firmly gripping a ball when it is inaccessible or inconvenient to reach with the hand under all conditions.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed 'out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following dei scription setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodymg the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used; 2 In said annexed drawings 2- Fig. 1 is.a side elevation of a golf club having my improved device attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a view of the attachment in operation; Fig. 3 is a detail section of the de- 3 vice, showing the relation in size between it and a ball; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the device actually gripping a ball.

Heretofore springs and other devices have been used. to pick up golf balls, but it has been found that they will not work everytime and in some cases these devices have injured the cover of the ball. In my improved device the ball is gripped firmly by me ans of suction which results in eflicient operation and 40 no injury to the ball. Golf is a game that is played under all conditions; that is, early in the morning when sweaters and coats are worn, and in the event that a ball is driven into a water hazard, it is necessary'to remove such garments and reach into the water and pick up the ball. Allof this detracts'from the enjoyment of the game and is liable to re sult in colds to the player. Under some circumstances, the water may be too deep to reach byhand and it is necessary to push the ball around with the club and eventually knock it on shore. By the use of my improved pick-up device, all such inconvenience and dangeris obviated. It is merely necessary to reverse the club, grip it bypthe club head, and press downwardly on the ball.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a conventional golf club having a shaft 1, a club head 2, and a wrapped handle 3, with my improved vacuum cup 4 attached to the handle. In Fig. 2, a green 8 is illustrated, having a cup 9 therein, with a ball in the cup and the club 1 in positionto pick'up'the ball from the cup without having to bend over or stoop. In the same manner a ball could be picked up from a water hazard, such as a lake or brook, without the player removing his sweater or coat and without the necessity of wetting his hand or arm. In Fig. 3 the device is shown in detail and here is illustrated the difference-between the normal diameter of the beveled annular portion 7 and the outer surface of the ball. Immediately below thebeveled surface 7, I provide a recess 6, preferably approximately spherical inform, that constitutes the vacuum cup proper, and on the other end of the retriever I have shown a cavity 10 which, due to the resiliency of the material of; the device, will fit any ordinary golf club. In Fig. 4, the device is shown with the .outermost portion, including the beveled surface 7, expanded to grip a ball and with the rcess 6 at the same time functioning as a Vacuum cup. In this manner the ball is securely gripped by the suction exerted by such cup, since the beveled an nular portion that surrounds the cavity 6' is of suflicient width to seal the irregular surface of'a'spherical article. suchas a'golf ball. That is, the bevelled portion has a width which is suflicient to seal a part of thesurface of a golf ball, and as shown in Fig. 4 this part need not be the largest portion "of the surface, but may be a smallerportion, 5 thus dispensing with the necessity for a large cumbersome device which might interfere with a players movements. In other words, the bevelled annular portion grips a segment of the surface of a spherical object which maybe a golf ball instead of gripping an equatorial portion. It will be understood that by simply pushing the device down on the ball, "most of the air is exhausted from such cavity 6 and the ball thereby held by suction. This device has been tried under all conditions and it has been found that it satisfactorily picks up the ball by simply pushing the club downwardly.

While the foregoing specification has described my device more especially as a golf ball device, ,it is not intended to limit the in vention to one use as there are innumerable other obiebts with which it can be efficientlv used. For instance, my vacuum cup could be used to replace worn out electric bulbs in inaccessible places. 'Such a use would be more easily accomplished than with a golf ball for the surface of a bulb is smooth, whereby it is easilygripned with my cup. In re-- nlacinq wornout" bulbs at present. especiall v on theatre marquees and signs, the electrician or other workman .mustus'e a ladder, whereas with my cup placed ona long stick a bulb could be quickly removed and a new oneinstalled. thus dispensing with the use of ladders or equivalent means, and saving the time which such means require.

Other modes of a'rmlvinq the principle of mv invention mav be emplo ed instead of the one explained. chance being made as reyards the mechanism herein disclosed. Drovided he mean 'stated bv anv of the followin cla ms or the equivalent of such stated m ans he empl'oved.

1' erefore 'narticularlv noint out and distinctlv claim as my invention 1. As an article of manufacture;a-vacuum Cuo f r nickinv un snherical articles su h as ornlf balls and the like. comnrisin r'a flexihl m m er havinv an apn'roximatelv frustocon c l evterior surface. and a cavitv in one en tbere'of said cn'vitv'cousistin of an annu ar beveled surface. inters ctio sai exterinr su face and f rmin a'thiu lin and another c ntral cavity located interiorly of said beveled surface.

2. As an art cleof m n facture. a vacuum cup for n kin o herical articles such s o'nlf halls and thelike. comnrisin a Herihle memheeha inq an annro matelv rusto-conic l exte or surface. and a cavitv in one. end thereof. the. wall of said cavitv con-- Sisti e of an annular b veled sur a e-intersectinny said exterior surface and yi'nnfl'vpr located interior ly at portion of said and another central cavit of said beveled surface, t

exterior surface adjacent said beveled sur- I HARRY MOYSES.

tra cavitv located interiorlv ofsaid beveled;

surface. sa d exte ior surfac n beveled sur face f rming a thin .eimansihle lit).

3. As an article of manufactureva 'varu um cun "For niclzin'q no pherical a ticles uch as golf balls and the like. cmn-orisinsr a flexible member having an anuroximatelv f ustoconical ext rior sur ce. and a cavitvin one end thereof. the wall o said cavitv consistinn' of an annular beveled surface intersect ng said exterior surface and forming a thin lip 

